Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest Hidden Gem is a delight for hikers and nature lovers.

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McCann Family Farm in Somers is cared for by volunteers from the Northern CT Land Trust.
McCann Family Farm in Somers is cared for by volunteers from the Northern CT Land Trust. (Tim Jensen/Patch)

SOMERS, CT — How is it possible that a busy state highway, the most-traveled road in Somers, can contain a Hidden Gem? In the case of the McCann Family Farm, a small sign partially obscured by foliage is the only way one would know about the existence of this scenic land preserve.

McCann's is open to the general public for passive recreation during daylight hours on weekends and holidays. Located on the south side of Route 190, the 84-acre property has a small parking lot on the edge of a hilly hayfield.

Two trails are open to the public. Both are maintained, well-marked with plastic diamonds and both finish back at the parking lot. The 1.95 mile Shady Brook Trail (blue diamonds) stays in the northern two-thirds of the property, while the 3.0 mile Escarpment Trail (yellow diamonds) visits the southern boundary area.

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For nature loves, more than 300 species of trees, flowers, ferns and other plants have been identified, and more than 120 species of birds have been recorded. Three separate areas, all adjacent to the hayfields, have been designated as a bird sanctuary.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to Chris.dehnel@patch.com.

Other Gems in this series:
2022

2021 and earlier:

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